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From: ken@aiva.ed.ac.uk (Ken Johnson)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: First language taught in CSC degree track
Message-ID: <126@aiva.ed.ac.uk>
Date: Wed, 5-Aug-87 12:26:51 EDT
Article-I.D.: aiva.126
Posted: Wed Aug  5 12:26:51 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 8-Aug-87 09:02:06 EDT
Reply-To: ken@aiva.ed.ac.uk (Ken Johnson)
Organization: Dept. of AI, Univ. of Edinburgh, UK
Lines: 30
Keywords: COMAL Scotland

Some readers may know that there has been considerable discussion of
this topic in Scotland. The reason is that the Scottish Education Department
has been specifying new examination requirements for Scottish schools.
Hence, the language they chose is likely to be commonly studied by
students prior to university entry. In some parts of Scotland it will
also become the only examinable computer language in schools.

The chosen language is called "COMAL", which is a structured Basic. 
It runs on the Commodore 64 and on the BBC Micro, to my knowledge.

I would be interested to hear any comments on the choice. (Personally
I would have considered Logo but I happen to work with it.)
What problems (other than purely administrative ones) does it solve?
What problems does it create?

Please E-mail to me: I'll summarise. Apposite responses may also be
used in the public consultation exercise. I happen to disagree with
their choice and it would be useful to have some more ammo in case
war breaks out again on this issue.

	Ken Johnson (ken@aiva.ed.ac.uk)


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